- Tumblr Posts

10, 16, 21 for VH?

Thank you so much for this one! I had a blast writing it, and I managed to make it into something very soft and very nice (for me at least) so enjoy! And thanks again

“Hey.” Victor-Hecate jumped at the soft knock and voice outside their door. The sky was dark, with clouds or time they weren’t sure.

“Come in,” they called out hesitantly, wary not to wake their mum.

A shadowy figure slipped through the barely open door, something shiny glinting by their side. “Couldn’t sleep?” Noah, their older brother, asked. “The storm or…” He trailed off, giving them a meaningful look as he draped a thin blanket over their shoulders. He sank to lean against their curled-up form, fixing his gaze on the quietly rumbling sky.

They shrugged. “A bit of both. I think,” they murmured, matching his volume.

“Come on, you don’t need to keep anything from me,” he cajoled.

“I’m not.”

They felt him shift against their side. “Really? Okay then, if you’re sure. 'Cause I’m definitely not,” he chuckled dryly. He rubbed circles on their back, reminiscent of when they were a couple of years younger, still struggling with their isolation. They’d suffered countless sleepless nights before finally accepting his help. He’d been on a break from college and took the time he could’ve been using to catch up on rest to comfort them. Instead, he sat on the edge of their bed, drawing shapes on their back while regaling them with fantastical tales straight from his imagination. He tested story ideas on them, asking their opinion the next morning and pretending the bags under his eyes were for purely selfish purposes.

“You know,” he interrupted their thoughts. “There was supposed to be a comet out tonight. But the storm,” lightning punctured his sentence, “kind of ruined that, don’t you think?”

They hummed in agreement, pressing against his weight. They teased him, “Didn’t peg you for the astronomy type.”

“I’m not, really, it just happened to be on my calendar.” Their jab had passed over his head. “Hey, uh, I brought something with me.”

“What is it, you big lug,” they were curious as they shoved him off them to see better.

He fell dramatically onto the bed, quietly moaning in mock pain. “How could you maim me like this? For that, I’m not going to show you anymore.” Thunder ominously followed his words. The dry storm outside gave way to rain pattering at their window. They sighed, a mixture of contentedness and playful annoyance swirling in their chest. Ensuring the blanket was between their hands and his bare arm they tugged weakly.

“Come on, please? I’m sorry. Sort of,” they grinned.

“Fine, fine,” he griped, sitting up. “I wouldn’t have wanted to waste my effort anyway.” He struggled to hide his smirk, trying to keep up the wounded façade. Despite their large age gap, the pair was still as thick as thieves. “Look.” He held out a medallion, ribbon first.

They took it gently, cradling it. “Is this?” they asked in wonderment.

He nodded, “Your first gymnastics award. Ma was cleaning out an old storage closet yesterday and I spotted it. In case you thought I had it. If I did it would’ve been lost.” He laughed, short and tired.

“Thank you.” They turned it over in their hand; it was still shiny as their lavender nightlight glinted off it, even after nine years. They tilted forward, hugging him tightly. He squeezed back, tracing a figure eight between their shoulder blades.

Extricating himself from their embrace, he slipped off the bed. “Now enjoy the storm,” he instructed, tiptoeing toward their ajar door, “but not for too much longer. As your sort of older brother, I’m contractually obligated to tell you that. And if you spot the comet, let me know.” He paused at the door. “Good night,” he singsonged.

“Night,” they called back softly. They huffed in contentment once they were sure Noah was far enough not to see their giddy smile or hear the happy thrumming of their heart. Victor-Hecate thumped back onto their bed, caressing the medal and watching the swirling sky. For what, they weren’t entirely certain. But that was okay as they kept an ear out for any more nighttime visitors.